Empyre #5

Theres just one more issue of Empyre to go. After that, there will be a lot of one-shots and specials about the consequences of this epic for the Marvel Universe, including one that deals expressly with Reed Richards and The FF, and another celebrating the Wiccan/Hulkling marriage. For now, though, well have to wait until the beginning of September to see how Reed and Iron Man will rather literally pull us all out of the fire. Read Full Review

'Empyre' #5 is a great continuation of the story. Empyre has got it all: Love, high stakes, and densely rich heroic moments. Read Full Review

Empyre #5 is solid, if a little bit too over-bloated. I don't hate Empyre as an event comic but it could do a lot better, as well. A lot of the stuff happening in the tie-in issues should be happening in the main series and the storytelling in the main series could be more connected and streamlined for a better flow. Read Full Review

Empyre #5 won't blow you away, but Ewing's solid script continues the series' pattern of consistently rich storytelling. Read Full Review

Empyre #5 follows on the heels of major reveals in the event's last issue and delivers a character-defining moment for the Thing. Read Full Review

Being a big crossover schmegegge there was no question in my mind that Empyre #5 was going to leave our heroes at a low point, but it delivers in terms of art and succeeds more often than not in the pacing/scripting department. Read Full Review

Empyre #5 is a bit of a letdown in that it brings the event down to the level that was expected. It's an issue that's about the over the top action in some ways betraying the more insightful previous issues. It is a lowest common denominator in some ways walking back what was an interesting event. Hopefully, as the event wraps up, we're treated to more of what was and not just more of this issue. Read Full Review

But there's a lesson to be remembered with Empyre #5 " when characterization comes first, the overarching threat feels that much more tense as a result. That's the whole point of hero-worship, which feels like superhero comics in a nutshell " we love these characters, we want to root for them to succeed against all odds. And by reminding us of the heart underneath all the cosmic fireworks, even if the event itself doesn't echo through eternity, Empyre #5 should be considered a much-needed win. Read Full Review

Empyre as a whole is a mixed bag and, while it has interesting elements, such as Reed Richards slapping on Iron Man's armor, it is a crossover that ultimately falls far short of its promise. Read Full Review

Empyre #5 is the penultimate issue to an event that should have been nothing more than an Avengers/Fantastic Four crossover. Al Ewing and Dan Slott have tried to convince readers otherwise, but their big talk can't hide their little story. We do get a nice bit here for fans of Hulkling and Wiccan, but it felt more like a plot device than something to celebrate, and while I did like Valerio Schiti's art, I can't recommend this to anyone.I am looking forward to the next issue, but only because it's the last one. Read Full Review

Psycamorean

Aug 13, 2020

I liked this issue. I thought the wedding was nice. I thought everything with the Thing was written very well. I wasn't expecting the one death in the issue, although I have a feeling that will resolve itself. I'm interested in seeing where it leads. This definitely feels like an event built around its tie-ins. The whole Invasion of Wakanda, for instance, had its own miniseries. I feel like that's the biggest problem with the event is that now there are gaps that would've been filled by tie-ins that won't be now. I like the event for what it is though, and I do think it is overall well-written. The art continues to be great.

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Branden - Aug 13, 2020

Out of all the events with tie-ins, I think this event has the most consistent, enjoyable, and meaninful tie-ins. Perhaps it is due to all the cancelled issues and what Hickman has been doing, but I'm satisfied.

Weird Science Jim - Aug 13, 2020

the worst is the Thor tie-in Tony keeps bringing up that never happened!

Psycamorean - Aug 13, 2020

I think the Thor tie-in should've been kept. But we really have no idea what the reasoning for which tie-ins were culled was. It could've been that the ones with the most completed pages were given deference. Or it could've just been decided by what was projected to sell best.

ScorpioDarkArachnoid8

Sep 02, 2020

We're close to the finale as things are heating up. The story is going smoothly and pretty well-paced. Excited at how it'll end. The Thing shined in this issue as well Black Panther. R.I.P. Chadwick, you'll be missed.

Spacey Medicine

Aug 17, 2020

I'm still generally enjoying reading this, even if it's not giving us anything amazing.

CrazyforRAMU

Jan 04, 2021

It's a death-march to NoHopesVille, with some casualties along the way with which I strongly disagree. I don't like the grimness and I don't feel the tension. I *am* feeling Ben Grimm's Big Moment, though. And the Kaplan/Altman wedding turned out to be both heartwarming and surprisingly plot relevant. Add on some more top-shelf art and you've got an issue I didn't quite enjoy yet still consider good.

Hislight

Dec 02, 2020

The Good News is Teddy and his man had a pretty great scene and one of the better moments in the series. Black Panther Vs the Shaman plant people was the worst part of this for me. The cheap villains here are what ruin this story as none of them ever seem more than a panel away from being defeated. The Things moment was corny and way too easy...

allenquanobi

Aug 12, 2020

Hmm I wasn't aware this series was only 6 issues long. And it still feels like theres a lot more story to go, so it will be crammed in the final issue. The twist was also very obvious after the last issues ending. It's starting to feel like a let down for me

Beyond_Batman

Aug 12, 2020

This whole event is just meh. It's not terrible, but this whole event and all of its tie ins could have been covered in about 3 issues. The Cotati could have been so much more interesting if they added more than Quoi and Swordsman(I dont get why he is referred to as swordsman, its a plant with his memories). Off topic but the fact that Marvel is going out of it's way to show that the Black Panther is in charge is starting to irk me. We get it, he's black and "in charge".I have never in my 20+ years of collecting and reading Avengera there being a leader as anything more than a figurehead. They make it seem like there is now a chain of command and he is in charge. The Avengers are a group of heroes banded together for the same cause and do not "take orders" from anyone. They listened to Cap because they respected him, not because he was the "leader". more

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Psycamorean - Aug 13, 2020

If you are reading the current Avengers, Black Panther is actually in charge. The Avengers decided that he should lead. This has played a big role in the current Avengers series as other factions have built their own teams in response.

Beyond_Batman - Jan 12, 2021

I know this is really old but being a leader and being in charge are 2 very different things. This is not a military unit. They don't have to be there or even listen to anything he says, they aren't going to get court martialed or article 15'd(military word for getting into legal trouble). Captain America was never in charge. He was the leader because everyone respected him. Not saying they don't respect BP but he is really letting it be known it's his team and not people willingly together.

Psycamorean - Jan 13, 2021

This is just semantics, isn't it? They decided the should lead the team, and he does now. Now it's been several months since I've read this issue, but I don't remember anything in it that would warrant this distinction.

Psycamorean - Jan 13, 2021

They decided *he should lead the team

Beyond_Batman - Jan 13, 2021

No They didn't. The current editorial staff did.

Psycamorean - Jan 13, 2021

Okay, you can meta read everything. Cap became the de-facto leader after they changed the roster to remove all the established heroes and replace them with characters like Hawkeye and Quicksilver. That was editorial who decided that. There's little difference between the meta-text and the text here.

Branden

Aug 13, 2020

Overall, I like the event. The art is fantastic. I like how well-written the tie-ins are. The weekly reading experience, however, is somewhat lacking. Large gaps of story are missing at times, resulting in my sometimes lack of understanding or lack of caring. I want to care and I want to feel suspense, but I'm often not there. Incoming, for example, just led me from one idea to the next, and Road to Empire was rather ho-hum... until I read Empyre #1 and Hulking, and then reread the issues. Then I cared and was interested. But little things keep getting in the way. This issue's twist is given away in issue #4, so there is little impact there. I would love to experience the pain and suffering a character went through so I could care more, but I have to infer it instead. And another example of how the wind is taken out of the this issue's sails is how the advertisements for future issues 1/2 way through the story remove any sense of dread the end of this issue might possibly had conjured up. I'm sure I'll love this issue when I reread the series in its entirety, but reading it now is like watching a movie with a friend who tells you something awesome is about to happen right before every awesome thing happens. more

Liem Duong

Aug 12, 2020

Okay. So another issue of nothing actually ramped up to combat the Cocati and the Kree-Skrull, and we are one issue to go. Man, I do not have hope this issue will finish off well. For such an intriguing situation, It feels like half of the Avengers are just standing around. There are some interesting things like the whole Hulking fiasco, but outside of that and BP, what the hell is even the point of showing half of the pages. They don't feel important, this event feels boring, the avengers still haven't done anything. Like, where the hell is Thor and whats going on with Tony/Reeds. Even with decent action and good art, this event literally is shoving all the actual battle in its final issue. And on top of average tie-ins, I feel sorry f or the dudes that are buying this whole event. What a waste of 100+ dollars. Same problems, dragged out way too long, not nearly enough momentum, can't capitalize on good hooks and revelations, nobody in this story feel important outside of Hulking, this event doesn't feel important . And thats a sign when an event has failed at its goals. A mere fill in for X of Swords or King in Black. more

Jacks Comics

Aug 17, 2020

Art 4/5 Story 1/5